Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Part 34

Pemphigus neonatorum usually ends fatally.

Give the treatment of pemphigus.

Both const.i.tutional and local measures are demanded. Good nutritious food and hygienic regulations are essential. a.r.s.enic and quinia are the most valuable remedies. The former, in occasional instances, seems to have a specific influence, and should always be tried, beginning with small doses and increasing gradually to the point of tolerance and continued for several weeks or longer. The remedy should not be set aside as long as there are signs of improvement, unless the supervention of stomachic, intestinal or other disturbance demand its discontinuance.

Other tonics, such as iron, strychnia and cod-liver oil, are also at times of service.

The blebs should be opened and the parts anointed or covered with a mild ointment. In more general cases bran, starch and gelatin baths, and in severe cases the continuous bath, if practicable, are to be used.

CLa.s.s III.--HEMORRHAGES.

Purpura.

Define purpura.

Purpura is a hemorrhagic affection characterized by the appearance of variously-sized, usually non-elevated, smooth, reddish or purplish spots or patches, not disappearing under pressure.

Name the several varieties met with.

Three--purpura simplex, purpura rheumatica and purpura haemorrhagica; denoting, respectively, the mild, moderate and severe grade of the disease. The division is, to a great extent, an arbitrary one.

Describe the clinical appearance and course of an individual lesion of purpura.

The spot, which may be pin-head, pea-, bean-sized or larger, appears suddenly, and is of a bright red or purplish red color. Its brightness gradually fades, the color changing to a bluish, bluish-green, bluish- or greenish-yellow, dirty yellowish, yellowish-white, and finally disappearing; varying in duration from several days to several weeks.

Describe the symptoms of purpura simplex.

Purpura simplex, or the mild form, shows itself as pin-point to pea- or bean-sized, bright or dark-red spots, limited, as a rule, to the limbs, especially the lower extremities; fading gradually away and coming to an end in a few weeks, or new crops appearing irregularly for several months. There is rarely any systemic disturbance, and, as a rule, no subjective symptoms; in exceptional cases an urticarial element is added--_purpura urticans_.

Describe the symptoms of purpura rheumatica.

Purpura rheumatica (also called _peliosis rheumatica_) is usually preceded by symptoms of malaise, rheumatic pains and sometimes swelling about the joints; these phenomena abate and frequently disappear upon the outbreak of the eruption. The lesions are pea- to dime-sized, smooth, non-elevated, or slightly raised, and of a reddish or purplish color; the eruption may be more or less generalized, most abundant upon the limbs, or it may be limited to these parts. It may end in a few weeks, or may persist for several months, new spots appearing irregularly or in the form of crops.

As somewhat allied to this is another form (_Schonlein's disease_), quite alarming in its symptoms. It is rare. It is characterized by symptoms partaking of the nature of rheumatism, purpuric spots, blotches and ecchymoses, erythema multiforme, and often a.s.sociated with considerable edema. The throat is also usually invaded, and indeed the first symptom is commonly in this region. Considerable const.i.tutional disturbance, of a threatening character, is commonly observed. Recovery usually takes place.

_Henoch's purpura_, observed chiefly in children, resembles the above, with the erythema multiforme character and the [oe]dematous swellings more p.r.o.nounced, while the actual purpuric symptoms are less conspicuous. Gastric and intestinal symptoms and hemorrhages from the mucous membrane are commonly noted. It is fatal in about 20 per cent. of the cases.

Describe the symptoms of purpura haemorrhagica.

Purpura haemorrhagica (also called _land scurvy_) is characterized usually by premonitory, and frequently accompanying, symptoms of general distress, and by the appearance of coin to palm-sized, red or purplish hemorrhagic spots or patches, smooth, non-elevated or raised. Hemorrhage from the mouth, gums and other parts, slight or serious in character, may occur. New lesions continue to appear for several days or weeks; and in exceptional instances, repeated relapses take place, and the disease thus persists for months. It may end fatally.

State the etiology of purpura.

In most instances no cause can be a.s.signed. The disease occurs at all ages from childhood to advanced life, and in individuals, apparently, in good and bad health alike. The hemorrhagic type is oftener seen in subjects debilitated or in a depraved state of health. A microorganism is also looked upon as a factor by some observers, especially in the grave type of disease.

State the diagnostic characters of purpura.

The appearance, irregularly or in crops, of bright-red or purplish spots, evidently of hemorrhagic nature, and not _disappearing upon pressure_, and as they are fading, going through the several changes of color usually observed in any ecchymosis.

How does scurvy (s...o...b..tus) differ from purpura?

Scurvy, which may resemble the severe grade of purpura, has a different history, a recognizable cause, usually a peculiar distribution, and is accompanied with general weakness and a spongy, soft and bleeding condition of the gums.

What is the pathology of purpura?

The lesion of purpura consists essentially of a hemorrhage into the cutaneous tissues. The blood is subsequently absorbed, the haematin undergoing changes of color from a red to greenish and pale yellow, and finally fading away.

State the prognosis

The milder varieties disappear in the course of several weeks or months, and are rarely of serious import; the outcome of purpura haemorrhagica is somewhat uncertain; although usually favorable, a fatal result from internal hemorrhage is possible. The variety known as Schonlein's disease is alarming, but seldom fatal. Henoch's disease is, however, always of grave import.

What is the treatment of purpura?

Hygienic and dietary measures, the administration of tonics and astringents, and, in severe cases, by relative or absolute rest.

The drugs commonly prescribed are: ergot, oil of erigeron, oil of turpentine, quinia, strychnia, iron, mineral acids, and gallic acid.

_External_ treatment is rarely called for, but if deemed advisable, astringent lotions may be employed.

s...o...b..tus.

(_Synonyms:_ Scurvy; Sea Scurvy; Purpura s...o...b..tica.)

Describe s...o...b..tus.

Scurvy is a peculiar const.i.tutional state, developed in those living under bad hygienic conditions, and is characterized by emaciation, general febrile and asthenic symptoms, a more or less swollen, turgid and spongy and even gangrenous condition of the gums; and concomitantly, or sooner or later, by the appearance, usually upon the lower portion of the legs only, of dark-colored hemorrhagic patches or blotches. The skin of the affected part may become brawny and slightly scaly, and not infrequently may break down and ulcerate. Hemorrhages from the various mucous surfaces, slight or grave, may also take place.

State the etiology of scurvy.

It is due to long-continued deprivation of proper food, especially of fruits and vegetables. Other bad hygienic conditions favor its development. It is seen most commonly in sailors and others taking long voyages.